Postmodernism Flashcards
(12 cards)
What do postmodernists argue?
There are no sure foundations to knowledge
No objective criteria that can be used to prove whether something is true or false
Meta narratives that are used to help create oppressive states that impose their version of the truth to people
Relativist position
What does Lyotard argue?
Knowledge is a series of different language games or ways of seeing the world
People bid their version of the truth and recruit people to follow the same principles
What does Baudrillar ague about simulacra?
Knowledge is central to postmodern society
Society is about buying and selling knowledge in the form of signs and images
Sign stand for nothing over themselves
Signs appear more real than reality and substitute themselves for reality
Critical of TV - Main source of simulacara and our inability to distinguish between image and reality
How does the role of media impact culture and identity?
Endless stream of ever-changing images values and versions of the truth
Culture becomes fragmented and unstable, no longer a fixed set of values shared by members of society
Media created hyper-reality leaves us unstable and unable to improve society
Political activity to improve the world is impossible so the enlightenment project is unachievable
What are evaluations of postmodernism?
Rejection of all embracing meta narratives is valuable
Political decisions do make a real difference - society is progressing
How do marxists criticise postmodernism?
Ignore power and inequalities
Overlooks effect of poverty in restricting such opportunities
People cannot distinguish between reality and media image
What is disembedding according to Giddens?
Social relations are lifted from local contexts of interactions
We no longer need face to face contact to interact
Breaking down geographical barriers makes interaction more impersonal
What is reflexivity according to Giddens?
We are all continually reevaluating our ideas and theories
Nothing is fixed or permanent, everything is up for challenge
Culture becomes unstable and subject to change
What does Beck argue?
Risk society
In the past - drought, famine and disease
Today - Global warming
Late modernity - a time of growing individualistion, becoming increasingly reflective
What is reflexive modernisation?
Taking account of the risks attached to the different courses of action open to us
How does Giddens reject the postmodern view?
We can make rational plans to reduce risks
What are marxist theories of postmodernity?
Enlightenment project - achieving objective knowledge to bring about working class revolution
Society has moved from modernity to postmodernity
Flexible accumulation
Politics and progress - weakened the working class
